Just in case you’ve missed it, the 2011 St. Louis Craft Beer Week begins this Saturday. Over the rest of the week I’ll be detailing the events of the festival on STL Hops to bring more visibility to the event.

I, once again, cannot begin to stress enough how important it is for all of us to help make this event successful. We have over 55 events this year, so it’s important to get the word out about this week.

If you care about beer and beer awareness in St. Louis, it’s important to show the retailers, breweries and restaurants involved that there are people that care about beer.

So, I know a lot of events are during the middle of the week and people have jobs and lives that make it difficult to attend some of the events, you at least make an effort to try and attend at least one event during the middle of the week. I also realize that money is tight, but a ton of the events are free, so it won’t hurt the pocketbook to attend more than a few.

If you love beer and I know you all do otherwise you wouldn’t be here, it’s time to show it. Anyway, here’s a rundown of the events taking place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday:

Saturday, July 30th

B33r and Brats – 33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar – 11AM-5PMFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase)If you’re trying to avoid the summer crowds and you’re looking for local freshly-grilled bratwurst, 33 Wine Bar will be hosting a special B33r and Brats event. Enjoy beer off of one of the best beer menus in St. Louis with some bratwurst from local farmers, all in the comfort of Lafayette Square.

Charleville Beer Tasting – Whole Foods Brentwood – 2PM-5PMFree EventWhole Foods is devoted to local. They try to source local products whenever possible. We’re lucky in St. Louis as we have a lot of local beer available, which is why they invited Charleville Brewery out to sample some of their always impressive beer.

Cream Ale Release – Six Row Brewing Company – 12PMFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase) Six Row’s Cream Ale was so popular during their American Craft Beer Week festivities, that they’ve decided to bring it back. Come out and enjoy this quintessential American beer at one of the finest breweries in St. Louis.

1/2 off St. Louis Craft Brews – Bridge Tap House – 9PM-1AMFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase) Looking for a way to end your evening? How about getting some inexpensive beer and also supporting some local breweries as well? Bridge Tap House will be your late-night destination as they’re putting all of their local draught beers on sale.

Sunday, July 31st

Sneak Peek Brewery Tours – Perennial Ales, Civil Life Brewing, 4 Hands Brewing – See Times BelowFree EventWith multiple breweries opening up in the next few months, it’s never been a better time to be a beer lover in St. Louis. While some of these breweries may not be open yet, here is your first chance to visit Perennial Artisan Ales, The Civil Life Brewing Company, and 4 Hands Brewing Company. Tours will be available at each location during the following times:

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out what these three breweries will have for us in the near future.

Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest – The Stable – 4PM-5PMFree Event(Food and drink available for purchase) Whether you’re a professional hot dog eater or if you’re just someone who enjoys a show, make sure to visit The Stable as they celebrate one of the most unusual aspects of Coney Island: the hot dog eating contest. It wouldn’t be Coney Island without some Shmaltz Brewing Company beers.

1/2 off St. Louis Craft Brews – Bridge Tap House – 5PM-MidnightFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase) Looking for a way to end your evening? How about getting some inexpensive beer and also supporting some local breweries as well? Bridge Tap House will be your late-night destination as they’re putting all of their local draught beers on sale.

Sunday Beer Cocktails – The Royale – 9PM-MidnightFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase) Part of the ongoing Cocktail Museum Sundays series put on by the Royale, they will be offering up a full list of beer cocktails. Many of the creations will be obscure or quite ancient and possibly never before offered in St. Louis.

Monday, August 1st

Sour Mild Ale Release– Six Row Brewing Company – 4PMFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase)If you haven’t heard of a Sour Mild before, take heart, it’s nothing we’ve heard of either. But consider us intrigued… and thirsty.

Green Flash Beer Tasting – Friar Tuck Crestwood – 4PM-6PMFree eventCelebrate the release of St. Louis’s newest visitor from the West Coast by coming out and tasting some delicious Green Flash beers. Representatives from Green Flash will be on hand to sample some of their hoppy ales along with their Belgian series as well.

2nd Shift Craft Beer Dinner – Franco – 7PMPrice $55- Reservations are required (314-436-2500)It’s hard to believe, but this is the first beer dinner that 2nd Shift Brewery has done in St. Louis. Not unlike their beers, 2nd Shift wasn’t content to stay within the lines, which is why they’re working with their good friends at Franco to put on a spectacular meal. Here’s a look at the menu.

UCBC Delta Hop Cask Night – The Royale – 6PMFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase) The Royale will be releasing Urban Chestnut Brewing Company’s first cask of “Delta Hop” that evening. They will also be conducting a local tap takeover for the week featuring 7-10 local craft beers.

Road Trip – Pi Delmar, Eclipse, Three Kings,Cicero’s – 7PMFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase)Who needs to hit the open road to take a vacation? What if you can visit four different states in your own backyard? Each location listed below will be featuring beers from different states around the union. Here’s the line-up:

Cicero’s – Michigan IPAs

Three Kings Public House – Colorado

Eclipse – Missouri

Pi – California

Green Flash Launch Party – Pi Delmar – 7PMFree event (Food and drink available for purchase)Celebrate the release of St. Louis’s newest visitor from the West Coast by coming out and tasting some delicious Green Flash beers. You’ll have a great chance to meet some representatives from Green Flash along with enjoying some excellent beers as well. This event is part of the Road Trip.

Founders Devil Dancer Tapping – Bridge Tap House – 8PMFree Event (Food and drink available for purchase) If you’re looking for one of the hoppiest beers known to man, look no further than this event. Bridge will be tapping Founders Devil Dancer triple IPA at 8PM. There will be other Founders beer specials as well.